Push button for door handles and the like



A ril 23, 1957 G. v. JAKEWAY 2,789,853

PUSH BUTTON FOR DOOR HAND LES AND THE LIKE Filed July 20, 1953 m a, w d, M

United States Patent PUSH BUTTON FOR DOOR HANDLES AND THE LIKE Application July 20, 1953, Serial No. 369,024

2 Claims. 01. 292-33 3 This invention relates to push button for door handles and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a push button door handle which is adapted for use on automobiles, refrigerator doors and the like which is substantially noiseless in operation and is effectively weather sealed so that it is not likely to become inoperative when used in exposed position as in automobile doors.

Second, to provide a door handle having these advantages which is relatively economical in its parts and one in which the push button parts may be readily assembled.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a door handle embodying my invention partially in longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in transverse section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. l, the push button being shown in operative position by full lines and in partially assembled position by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partially in section corresponding to that of Fig. l with the push button shown in full lines.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the combined weather strip and silencer member.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating certain structural features and steps in the assembly of the parts.

My present invention is an embodiment of and in certain respects an improvement upon the structure of my application for Letters Patent filed January 29, 1953, Serial No. 333,891, Patent No. 2,739,831 issued March 27, 1956. In the commercial use of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in that application it was found that sometimes bell-like noises resulted from the manipulation, as by the operator striking the handle with the end of a finger in grasping the handle. My present invention overcomes that noise and also provides a weather strip for the push button so that it does not freeze or become inoperative as a result of the formation of ice.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a body member 1 having an inwardly offset rear portion 2 provided with an anchoring lug 3, inwardly offset front portion 4 and an intermediate grip portion 5. The front portion 4 is chambered, the top wall of the chamber having an opening 7 therein for the push button 8.

The body in the structure illustrated is provided with a shell 9 embracing the body and having inturned flanges 10 embracing the lower edges of the body. This shell has a push button opening therein provided with inturned flanges 11 which not only provide finish but their inner edges constitute a stop 12 as will be hereinafter pointed out. The shell is desirably formed as a sheet metal stamping and suitably finished.

The bracket 13 is provided with a base portion 15 secured to the body member at 16 and an upwardly projecting arm portion 17 secured to the body member at 18. The tubular stem guide 19 is mounted on this bracket centrally in alignment with the push button 8 Which in the embodiment illustrated is a hollow sheet metal stamping provided with an outturned flange 20 at its inner end. The stem 21 is welded at 22 to the inner side of the top of the push button. The stem is reciprocable in the guide 19. The push button is biased or urged yieldingly outward by the coil return or biasing spring 23 which is ar-' ranged around the stem guide 19 with its outer end in thrust engagement with the inner side of the top of the push button.

The combined silencer and'weather strip member 24 embraces the push button under tension and is disposed in supported relation to the flange 20, as is illustrated. This member 24 is desirablya gasket-like resilient ring formed of natural or synthetic rubber, as shown in Fig. 4, and is of such dimensions that when arranged around the push button it conformingly embraces the same under tension which not only retains it in position but is eifective in eliminating the noise.

When the push button is in projected position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and by full lines in Fig. 2, the member 24 engages the stop 12 of the inturned flanges 11 of the shell, coacting therewith to provide a weather seal or weather excluding seal.

In Figs. 2 and 5 I illustrate the method of assembling. The stem 21 and sheet metal button 8 are positioned as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2 for passage of the button inwardly through the opening in the front wall of the handle into the chamber of the body member, the dimension of the opening as defined by the flanges 11 permitting the passage of the button at the flange thereof through the opening. After the push button and its return spring have been assembled the push button is depressed as shown in Fig. 5 and the member 24 slipped over the same into supported engagement with the flange thereof. The external dimension of the member 24 is then greater than the dimension of the push button opening as defined by the flanges 11 whereby the member is seated against the edges or shoulders of the flanges to provide a moisture tight seal as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The stem 21 projects from the stem guide 19 to coact with an actuated member indicated conventionally at 25. The stops 30 prevent the removal of the push button.

In the accompanying drawing 26 represents a door panel provided with a reinforcing plate 27. This reinforcing plate is provided with an offset 28 having an opening therein to receive the anchoring screw 29 of the handle which engages the threaded opening in the bracket. These mounting details, however, are those shown in said Patent No. 2,739,831.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a very practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A door handle comprising a chambered body member provided with a grip, the wall of the chamber having a push button opening therein, a body member shell having a push button opening therein registering with said push button opening of the body member, said opening having inturned flange like portions at the edge thereof embracing the edge of the push button opening in the body member and constituting an inwardly facing stop, a

push button reciprocably supported and guided to project from said opening and provided at its inner end with an outwardly facing annular shoulder disposed with said chamber at the inner side of said stop when the push button is in assembled position, and a yieldable resilient silencer, Weatherstrip and stop engaging member ernbracing said push button in supported relation to said shoulder thereof and in coacting relation to said stop when the push button is in its spring projected position, the relative dimensions of said push button opening in said body member and said shoulder of said push button being such that said shoulder of said push button is insertable through the opening from the front of the chamber, said silencer, Weatherstrip and stop engaging member being insertable through the opening for positioning in supported engagement with the shoulder of said push button to coact with said stop when the push button is in its projected position.

2. A door handle comprising a chambered body member provided with a grip, the wall of the chamber having a push button opening therein surrounded by an inwardly facing shoulder-like stop, a push button reciprocably supported and guided to project from said opening and provided at its inner end with an outwardly facing annular shoulder disposed with said chamber at the inner side of said stop when the push button is in assembled position, a spring acting to urge said push button yieldingly outward, and a resiliently yieldable silencer, weatherstrip and stop engaging member embracing said push button in supported relation to said shoulder thereof and in coacting relation to said stop when the push button is in its spring projected position, the relative dimensions of said push button opening in said body member and said shoulder of said push button being such that said shoulder of said push button is insertable through the opening from the front of the chamber, said silencer, Weatherstrip and stop engaging member being insertable through the opening for positioning in supported engagement with the shoulder of said push button to coact with said stop when the push button is in its projected position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,234,810 Simpson Mar. 11, 1941 2,605,630 Keeler Aug. 5, 1952 2,660,046 Jacobi Nov. 24, 1953 winr 

